Madurai, Jan 30 (IANS) Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers M.K. Alagiri’s 59th birthday was celebrated in grand fashion in Tamil Nadu Saturday, with DMK cadres organising community feasts and blood donation camps and distributing tricycles and sewing machines to the handicapped and the poor.
Alagiri’s house in T.V.S. Nagar was thronged by DMK leaders, alliance parties and government officials.

DMK party flags, posters and banners wishing the party’s strong man in southern Tamil Nadu were seen everywhere in the city.

His once estranged relative and cabinet colleague, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran, presented Alagiri with a sword at a public function.

Speaking to reporters, Alagiri said the DMK will move on the path shown by its leader and Tamil Nadu Chif Minister M. Karunanidhi and retain power in the ensuing assembly elections.

Alagiri reiterated that his father - Karunanidhi - will be the chief minister in 2011.

However, Karunanidhi has been repeatedly hinting about his retirement from politics this June after the World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore.

Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, launching a book on Alagiri, said the two of them will work together like a double barrelled gun of the DMK and achieve the dreams of Karunanidhi.